Dubai-based Emirates airline banned pagers and walkie-talkies on all its flights — weeks after dozens of Hezbollah terrorists were killed and thousands more injured when their devices exploded in a stunning sabotage attack.
The airline, the largest carrier in the Middle East, said police would confiscate the devices if they are found in passengers’ luggage.
“All passengers traveling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie talkies in checked or cabin luggage,” the government-run carrier said in a statement posted to its web site.
Last month, the Israeli spy agency Mossad was fingered as the most likely entity behind the mysterious explosions of thousands of booby-trapped pagers and two-way radios used by the Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon.
The Israeli government has remained mum about the coordinated attacks, which preceded a massive bombing campaign in Lebanon that was waged in retaliation for Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging blows since Oct. 8 of last year — the day after Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip killed 1,400 Israelis in a cross-border attack on soldiers and civilians.
Hamas has held scores of Israelis hostage since the attack.
Last month, Israeli fighter jets bombed Lebanon in an attempt to wipe out Hezbollah’s senior high command, resulting in the death of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The killing prompted Iran to fire missiles into Israel last week. The Israelis have vowed to retaliate.
Emirates also announced that flights to Iraq and Iran will remain suspended until Tuesday, while services to Jordan will resume on Sunday.
Flights to Lebanon will remain suspended until Oct. 15 due to escalating Israeli attacks against Hezbollah, including strikes near Beirut’s airport.
Several other airlines have also suspended flights to Beirut and other regional airports amid heightened tensions.
With Post wires
